Fundamentals of Political Science and Beyond: Power and the State

The book, entitled “Fundamentals of Political Science: Power and the State,” provides a comprehensive and rigorous analysis of essential political science concepts, aiming to reduce the terminological ambiguity often found in the field. The work is structured into two main parts. Part I, “Structuring Concepts of Political Science,” is dedicated to defining and distinguishing fundamental terms. It initially addresses sovereignty and autonomy (including internal autonomy), exploring their interrelationships and conceptual implications with practical examples. Subsequently, the book details the various forms of state (unitary, federal, regional), the regime of government (democracy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, with an emphasis on hybrid and competitive authoritarian regimes), and the system of government (parliamentarism, presidentialism, semi-presidentialism, and the proposed semi-parliamentarism). Furthermore, it examines the mechanisms of cooperation and control amongst powers, constitutional models, and the dynamics of relations and conflict between the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches. Political representation and participation, as well as the relationship between the political regime and the populace, are also explored, culminating in a synthetic overview of the concepts presented. Part II, “Applied Fundamental Concepts,” delves deeper into the application of these concepts to contemporary phenomena. The focus is on political representation, governance and accountability, participation and deliberation, citizenship and rights, power and authority, and the role of political institutions. The discussion extends to electoral systems, with a detailed analysis of open and closed lists and their implications. The concluding chapter explores the dynamics of power, institutions, and decision-making processes, covering political culture, public opinion, social movements, media, corruption, democratic governance, international institutions, democratic crises, and political utopias. The conclusion reiterates the book's pedagogical vocation and the importance of precise knowledge regarding institutions and regimes for active citizenship, particularly within the Brazilian context, which is characterized by challenges to democracy and the persistent influence of a “moderating power.” The book stresses the necessity of constant vigilance and institutional improvement for democratic health. Part III, ‘Beyond the Fundamentals’, transcends established typologies to address the complex and fluid nature of contemporary governance. It introduces a ‘Unified Analytical Framework’ built upon three interconnected pillars: Hybrid Political Continuums, exploring systems along gradual spectra; Situated Sovereignty, reconceptualising state authority as contextual and conditioned; and the Formal-Informal Institutional Nexus, examining the interplay between written rules and uncodified practices. This framework is applied to diverse empirical cases, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Russia, Singapore, Hungary, and Brazil. The part further provides an in-depth comparative analysis of hybrid governance systems, particularly semi-presidentialism and semi-parliamentarism, dissecting their structural and operational distinctions, and integrating advanced theoretical debates on leadership and accountability. Ultimately, this section aims to equip the reader with sophisticated analytical tools for a more profound understanding of power dynamics, fostering critical and informed citizenship.